Contact device for under-contact third rails.



No. 763,435. v PATENTBD JUNE 28, 1904.

P.R.SLATBR.

GONTAOT DEVICE FOR UNDER CONTACT THIRD RAILS.

APPLIOA'TION FILED JUNE 20', 1903. no MODEL.

g 135 iii a; Efllliiiiilllll I M v mlllmlml- UNITED STATES ratenteol June 28, 1904.

PATENT ()FFICE.

FREDERICK R. SLATER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF- ONE-HALF TO ROBERT W. LYLE, OF NEW YORK, N.. Y.

CONTACT DEVICE FOR UNDER-CONTACT THIRD RAILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,435, dated June 28, 1904.

Application filed June 20, 1903. 'Serial No. 162,356. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK R. SLATER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Contact Devices for Under- Contact Third Rails, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to contact devices for that class of third rails which are employed in electrical railways as a conductor for the current and which are adapted to be engaged on the under side by the shoe which transmits the current to the motor mechanism of the cars.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and improved contact device of the character just set forth which will effectively operate by gravity action, whereby the em ployment of springs or analogous means for forcing the shoe into its contact with the rail will be obviated, such springs oranalogous means being disadvantageous in devices of this character, inasmuch as they are apt to become clogged or otherwise uncertain in their action.

A further object of my present invention and improvements is to provide a contact device of the character set forth which will possess advantages in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness, facility of adjustment, positive operation, convenience, effectiveness, and general efficiency.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view taken transversely of the rail through the contact-shoe-supporting structure and rail structure, the contact-shoe devices being shown in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a front or face view of the contact device. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 0 a, Fig( 1, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.- Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view'taken on the line Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a third rail or electrical conductor, which may be of any suitable shape or structure, embodying an under or bottom surface, as at 2, adapt ed for a true sliding contact of the shoe of the contact device or mechanism. I prefer to employ an ordinary T-rail, such as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, having a flat top' surface 3.

The rail 1 may be mounted in any suitable or adapted manner; but I prefer in this connection to employ the mounting or support herein illustrated, which comprises an inverted cup 4, at one side of the top of which projects a suitable bracket, as at 5, conforming to one side of the under portion of the T-head of the rail, asat 6, and to one side of the web portion of the rail, as at 7 the rail being bolted or otherwise secured to this bracket, as indicated by the bolt at 8, preferably at its top portion. The railsupporting cup 4: rests over the corresponding top of an insulating supporting-block 9,

which may be formed of vitrified clay or other adaptedmaterial, and said block preferably has in its top a central downwardly-extending recess or hollowed-out portion, as at 10, in which is accommodated a downwardly-projecting spindle or enlargement 11, formed at the bottom of the cup 1. The connection between the rail-carrying means and the insulating-block isthus relatively loose, so that vertical movement or play of the block and railcarrying means independently of each other is permitted, this play sometimes happening by reason of the depression of the ties or sleepers of the railway. The insulating-block may itself be supported in any. suitable or adapted manner, preferably upon a base 11, having an upright spindle or standard 12, received in a recess or hollowed-out portion 13 in the bottom or under side of the block. The spindle 12 may be permanently connected or fixed to the block by the employment of co ment filled in the recess or the' connection between said spindle and block may be loose, as desired.

I preferably employ upon the top of the rail a protective structure, which may. as in the' instance hereln illustrated, consist simply of a board or plank 19, secured to the top of and a Weighted or counterbalanced opposite end, and antirattling means operating upon said arm forward of the fulcrum for maintaining the normal gravity action.

9. An improved contact device for undercontact third rails, comprising a pivoted or fulcrumed gravity-lever having an upwardlybearing contact-arm, and a spring bearing under said arm and constituting an antirattling means for maintaining the normal gravity action.

- In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses. 3

FREDERICK R. SLATER. Witnesses:

J. M. HooToR, M. M. DURKIN. 

